Guwahati: The Assam government on Monday introduced the Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the State Assembly, proposing greater flexibility in the use of tea garden land by allowing a limited portion of estates to be used for approved commercial activities.
The Bill, tabled by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta, seeks to permit tea estate owners to utilise or lease out up to five per cent of their land for projects approved by the state government. The move is aimed at creating new economic opportunities while retaining the primary purpose of tea cultivation.
If passed, the legislation will allow estate owners to either develop the approved projects themselves or lease the designated land to individuals, companies or other entities for a period to be decided by the government.
The proposed amendment identifies several eligible activities, including tea tourism, food and cash crop cultivation, livestock farming, green energy initiatives, food processing industries and the development of social infrastructure.
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, the changes are intended to ensure better utilisation of tea estate land, encourage institutional investment and promote specialised businesses linked to the tea sector. The government also expects the amendment to provide tea gardens with additional sources of income while supporting broader economic development.